More Pictures of District 51 Genting Convention - Indonesia Toastmasters

I requested some photos from Division H Governor Indriani Asfa of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia. Just received them - enjoy the photos.

Photo 1

Photo 2


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Photo 4

Happy Birthday Deli Toastmasters, Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia

A nice birthday invitation card designed by Deli Club President Henny Wahyuni.



Deli Toastmasters Club was chartered in June 1998. Deli meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday 3pm at Winfield Learning Center, Jln Hasanuddin No.25/9E, Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.

A Bit of History: Medan First and Deli Toastmasters Clubs

This week, I received an email from Division H Governor Elect Indriani Asfa about sharing the early history of her home club Deli Toastmasters for their upcoming Club Birthday Celebration. So I looked up for some old photos for this posting.

When I was District 51 Governor in 1997-98, the Toastmasters Clubs in Indonesia were all concentrated in Jakarta in Java with a corporate club each in remote Kalimantan and Irian Jaya. I was hoping that Toastmasters International would expand to Sumatra and all major islands in Indonesia. The opportunity soon arrived.

Ibrahim Champion and Hasti came to Penang to seek assistance to form the first Toastmasters Club in Sumatra. Ibrahim is an Australian and both of them were Toastmasters before in Jakarta. They visited my then home club, Butterworth Toastmasters with meeting venue at Tanjung Club in Tanjung Bungah, Penang Island.

Photo 1: Ibrahim Champion mesmerized by Uncle George of Butterworth Toastmasters showing the ropes - a magic trick.



Photo 2: Hasti visiting my parents' house and looking at their travel photos.



Photos 3-7: A Toastmasters demonstration meeting in April, 1998 in Medan. Butterworth Club President Ahmed Bazari and myself flew to Medan to attend this club meeting.





Ibrahim Champion and Hasti were instrumental for the determined initiative, unwavering moral and financial support to ensure that both Medan First and Deli Toastmasters Clubs were chartered in June, 1998 and continued running.

As I had promised, I went back to Medan a second time at the end of June 1998 to attend the joint Charter Night of Medan First and Deli Toastmasters Clubs.

News from International Director

Wow! What a great District 51 Convention@ Bali, Indonesia, 14th - 16th November 2008

Dear Brother SL,
I just came back from an exciting time at the District 51 semi-annual Convention. Congratulations to the Toastmasters of District 51 for putting together a great experience for me and for more than 310 Toastmasters that made the journey to that beautiful Bali, Indonesia.

The amazing experience began with being picked up at the airport by Convention Chair, Veronika Trianto.

The Convention was organized with excellent presenters and good food in a great facility. I congratulate District Governor, Joseph Gomez, DTM and his team on putting together a great convention. An excellent conference can go a long way to helping a District 51 achieve its goals.

I was warmly welcomed everywhere I went. It looks like we should get at least one new club in Bali very soon.

Once again, to the members of District 51 thank you for your warm welcome and for putting on such a great home coming convention for me. It made my first visit as your International Director a memorable occasion that I will remember for a long time.

Your friend for life

Kim Siong
Your International Director 2008-2010

Exploring Indonesia Toastmasters Clubs

Photo of Organizing Committee of Bali Convention


Today, I decided to find out more about Toastmasters Clubs in Indonesia.

The District 51 Bali Convention is just over last weekend. Although I was not able to attend, I thought I could at least increase awareness of Toastmasters Clubs in Indonesia through this posting. Well, someone else has actually already promoted public speaking for Indonesia - USA President Elect Barack H Obama.

I have been 4 times to Indonesia for purely Toastmasters trips. Will write about that in another post. But in this post, just to publish some online photos of Toastmasters Clubs in Indonesia for your enjoyment. Click on the club name to find the source of photo and/or club sites.

There are over 48 clubs in Indonesia - in Java, Sumatra, Bali, Riau, Kalimantan, primarily English speaking clubs with a couple of Bahasa Indonesia clubs and a Mandarin Club.

Click here for the Toastmasters International directory of all the Clubs in Indonesia.

In 1998, when I was District Governor, I went to Medan twice to help charter the first two Toastmasters Clubs in Sumatra - Medan First Toastmasters and Deli Toastmasters.

Today, in 2008, glad to know that Sumatra now has its own Division, that Medan has hosted the District 51 Semi-Annual Convention in November 2007 and that there is now a Toastmasters Club in Bandar Aceh - see photos below.

Without a doubt, Indonesia has a great potential growth for Toastmasters Club and one day will easily have over 200 Toastmasters Clubs and have her own coutry district or even two districts.



Essential Toastmasters Club, Jakarta





The Innovators Toastmasters, Jakarta





Kalibata Toastmasters, Jakarta





Medan First Toastmasters, Medan, Sumatra





Polonia Toastmasters, Medan, Sumatra





Kutaradja Banda Aceh Toastmasters, Aceh, Sumatra